Mason's Birthday

My dear friend Jessi's son turned ONE last week.

I can't believe it...I feel like I was just back home sitting with her family in the hospital waiting room and doing a mini counted cross-stitch of a teapot to help pass the time.

That's one thing I've learned from the births I've been fortunate enough to attend. Even when labor is "moving quickly," it's still s-l-o-w, especially when you are so excited to meet the new little person!

Mason is hilarious. He will be just like his mom and dad - so funny that I usually end up laughing through tears.

Jess put together a barnyard-themed party with so many creative ideas: bales of hay, salad served in toy wheelbarrows, candy in tin pails, etc. She's also a pastry chef and created a cow-themed chocolate peanut butter (although I had to eat around the PB) cake that tasted divine.

How did I get such creative friends?

He enjoyed the tissue more than the gifts.

Oh, and he got his first drum set.

birthday picnic.

I turned 26 yesterday, and the highlight of my lovely day was a dinner picnic in Laurelhurst Park.

We decided to meet by the duck pond, but walking down the path, we saw the area cordoned off with metal fences and, to our sadness, the pond was completely drained! No water, no ducks...just a big mud puddle. I'm slightly relieved though, because last time we were there, signs posted all around the pond warned of toxic algae. Even despite the signs, a group of park-goers pulled out some fishing gear and cast into the murky waters. The murmurs I caught going around the lawn included, "crazy!" and "can't they read?!" I don't think they ever caught anything, and if they did, it probably had two heads.

So we went a little further and spread the blanket on the edge of another lawn, surrounded by giant trees, with enough room for our good friends' two kids to ramble and play. And plenty of room for the ladies to relax with their wine and the guys to get a game of bocce ball going.

Out of the picnic basket (and bags) came prosciutto and turkey, assorted cheeses, a seedy baguette, rice crackers, two bottles of wine, fruit and vegetables, and cupcakes!

Jericho being a good big brother.

Lily doing what she loves best - eating!

Chocolate coconut spelt cupcakes and almond vanilla spelt cupcakes with huckleberry frosting. In the words of Tiffany, "TDF!!" (To Die For)

You can find the recipe for the cupcakes on Jen's blog. Tiffany made them, and she just subbed spelt flour for wheat flour and omitted the almond meal, using almond extract instead.

Which brings me to what I should have asked for for my birthday...

The Cup A Cake!

(via)

I could have really used this today. I wanted to take a cupcake with me when Andy and I went out for coffee this morning, and it would have been so much better to have had a custom case instead of a lame little tupperware.

And I don't really know what the purple hairy frosting is on the above picture...sadly, the Cup A Cake people need some major restyling.

So celebrating 26 was just how I wanted it: low-key and centered around food.

A very good day.

coast trip part II.

We had a lovely weekend in Brookings with Andy's family earlier this month in celebration of his grandma Jean's 80th.

It was my first time being at a "full" family gathering; I have spent time with everyone, but just never all together in one place. It made me thankful to be a part of such a wonderful family.

Everyone gathered at a little motel near Smith River, and since we rented out all the rooms, it was like our own private "estate." Each family had a separate studio or one-bedroom, and Andy and I stayed with his parents and sister on a futon that was surprisingly comfy!

In the back, lawn covered the cliff overlooking the ocean, a perfect retreat for when the wind picked up down by the water. Two benches were set up right on the edge for relaxing and taking in the views...

A stairway led down to the beach, which we had mostly to ourselves the whole weekend....

and had driftwood fires both nights and a softball game one afternoon...

with s'mores from the largest marshmallows I had ever seen....

and the first night, we roasted hotdogs and sausages over the open flames. Yum.

And everyone was content...

and the kids had the time of their lives in the "fort"...

and with their s'mores...

and the next day, a fresh tuna was filleted and made ready for the grill...

which turned out to be the best grilled fish I've ever eaten, rivalling maui, with fresh peach salsa, salad, roasted potatoes, and bread...

and good company...

and once again, happy kids!

Grandma's gift was an album full of pages that all the families had made. It was ginormous and so touching - Jean is a "cropper" who always has her camera ready and can scrapbook for hours on end. It was the perfect gift.

And the dog who put up all the cuddling and chasing was much loved by the kiddos...

and there was plenty of space to be silly...

and to blow bubbles...

and then back down to the beach for the last sunset and bonfire before heading back to real life...

a good weekend.

Lily's Birthday

Remember Lily?

She turned O-N-E earlier this month.

Her mamma threw her an amazing party, attending to each little detail. Some of the ideas and inspirations were found at TomKat Studios, but she put her her own stylish spin on it.

Friends and family from all over the states came to celebrate and eat two kinds of cupcakes.

Why didn't they have this kind of stuff when I was little? I am a little jealous.

Check out more pictures at her auntie Jen's blog, Wuthering Iris.

"I didn't know this was going to be a GIRL party..."

first coast trip of the summer.

Night 1. We stopped to camp overnight on our way down to Smith River for Andy's family reunion. I almost don't want to share where this spot is...but I will...in Charleston, Oregon at Riverside Park, tent spot #42.

We also decided we need to start collecting some basic camping gear. We borrowed a tent and campstove from our friends, and only had a little flashlight. We had to buy a lighter at Fred Meyer on the way there! But we do have a stovetop espresso maker, and I think that's pretty cool.

second wedding of the season!

First of all, I have so many things to write about!

I'm only going to handle two tonight.

First:

A few days after my cousin's wedding, featured a few posts ago, my other cousin had her baby! A sweet, perfect little baby girl named Ellie Kay. She was 8.8, 20.5 inches. And I had the honor of videotaping the whole thing. It was a special experience, as I stayed with her up until the birth and a few days after. Such a funny thing, we have pictures together running around when we were little girls, and now she has one of her own. I wonder if our kids will be as close?

The birth itself was a positive experience for everyone involved; the doctor and staff were helpful and supportive, and the environment was relaxed and family-oriented. I came home that night from the hospital and was still running on adrenaline, so I started on lasagna and manicotti at 10 p.m. to stash in their freezer for those nights when she can't-or doesn't want-to cook.

I miss little Ellie already!

Second:

Second wedding of the season! A lovely, thoughtful wedding of one of our home community couples that was just a pleasure to witness and a fun-filled evening with good company. You could definitely feel the love present through this whole affair.

David & Kim Sheern

6.26.10

Artemis catered. It was glorious.

Pulled pork sliders.

I kept stalking her for a picture, but she was too fast!

Oh, the Sangria. It was good.

Jackknife - a local PDX bluegrass band.

Now why is Lauren's plate (scroll down) so perfectly arranged and mine is just PILED?

Coffee favors.

We got to take home the centerpieces. They are stunning, and I really don't want mine to die.

Congrats, David and Kim!